I'm JD and I live in Mesquite, Texas - USA. My wife and myself are starting out in the 'getting back to a more simple life' and make your home pay for itself plan. This includes beekeeping, more gardening, alternative power supplementation, soap making, rasing chickens, welding, food storage, self-defense/home defense, etc...

I'm a real pretty darn good wordworker and computer technician as it is :chop: (tooting my own horn...). We have lifetime memberships to Frontsight firearms training in Nevada (haven't attended yet). But in all we're trying to get serious about this without being stupid about spending frivilous money.

My wife is thrilled about the idea of harvesting honey and wax but I don't know about the rest of the family's enthusiasm about so many bees so close to the house and the neighbor's reactions.

My time online here will probably be somewhat limited but I do hope I can ask some questions and perhaps find some mentors going forward.

.....The greatest changes occur in their country without their cooperation. They are not even aware of precisely what has taken place. They suspect it; they have heard of the event by chance. More than that, they are unconcerned with the fortunes of their village, the safety of their streets, the fate of their church and its vestry. They think that such things have nothing to do with them, that they belong to a powerful stranger called the government. They enjoy these goods as tenants, without a sense of ownership, and never give a thought to how they might be improved.....

Welcome, from Waco. :-D Im new myself. I plan on keeping bees in our backyard, but hubby isnt so sure about that. He wants to keep them out on some land his family has, where theres nobody around. Hes worried about the neighbors as well. I plan on going with the 'dont tell them until after we have them'. I know so many people look at bees and think the worst. Best of luck to you and your wife.

My wife is thrilled about the idea of harvesting honey and wax but I don't know about the rest of the family's enthusiasm about so many bees so close to the house and the neighbor's reactions.

BTW - My bees are (currently) in my back yard. And none of the neighbors knows the difference. My kids still climb the same trees, play in the yard, and in their play-house in the back - and they've never been stung while out there. The bees exit the hive, fly straight up, and go on their merry way.

having yo own eggs and a chicken to stew up whenever you want, gun traning already paid for wood worker make soap (requires fat in some form)dont sound like them treehugers cread i been reading about shucks just get you a gun turn it sideways like they do in the movies and spray.

Welcome! As for the neighbors' reactions, include them in your plans. Mine were a little concerned at first until I invited them over to see what was going on. Now they are some of my best customers and biggest supporters.

Don't let them phase you MrGreen. All woodworkers are treehuggers, or at least they should be. Were it not for responsible land management and conservation efforts, we'd have much less wood to work with. Welcome!

Is there anyone locally that would allow me to ask some questions or see thier apiary? I can't at this time make it to weekday evening meetings but really want to get some hands-on time before building my hive or ordering anything.